The professors smiled almost all the time. He got slightly agitated only twice in the entire quarter. The rest of the time his tone and voice was like an Indian saint. Keeping it low, cool and warm. But it was deceiving, because under this simple cover serious work was going on. He is a Historian of religion, of the Punjab, of Sikhs. The lectures always started with images or videos of Sikh life and art, were clear and enjoyable. They were also challenging at times, when I didn’t do the reading. The reader, a 450, mostly double page behemoth, was heavy literally and as literature. Some of it was way over my head. The highest point was our visit to the Gurdwara, the Sikh Temple in Ventura (40 minutes South from Santa Barbara.) I feel enriched by knowing more details of Sikh society and religion. I had rather vague memories of the 1984 troubles in Amritsar. Now I can make sense of it. I also have a deep appreciation of the social values and peaceful ways of this monotheistic religion that is outside the Abrahamic family, yet similar to them in its ethical teachings.Books read for course:
- Gurinder Singh Mann: Sikhism
- Sociology of Aging Course Summary